Dogs around the world serve as loyal companions and invaluable workers, and among the most notable and heroic are Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs. These specially trained canines are essential in locating and saving injured or missing people during natural disasters and other emergencies. Thanks to their powerful senses, SAR dogs save lives every week in situations where human ability alone falls short.
But what exactly does “Search and Rescue” mean when it comes to dogs? According to the National Association of Search and Rescue, it’s “the act of finding and returning to safety the survivors from an emergency incident.” More broadly, it includes “any operation aimed at helping someone in trouble, someone who cannot solve his or her problem alone.” The organization defines “search” as locating a person in distress, while “rescue” involves retrieving that person, offering initial aid, and delivering them to safety.
Barry Roland, a longtime member of Georgia Piedmont Region K-9 Search and Rescue, based south of Atlanta, knows this work well. As the team’s Treasurer and Training Director, Roland has spent decades immersed in the SAR world. He’s also deeply connected to one of the most iconic breeds in the field: the Saint Bernard.
Roland has owned Saint Bernards for more than 45 years, and Portuguese Water Dogs for over 30. He is an AKC (American Kennel Club) Judge in Conformation, Obedience, and Rally, as well as a Draft Test and Weight Pull Judge. He emphasizes that training a SAR dog is a highly demanding process, broken down into three core areas:
Though these categories offer a framework, the real-life training journey is intensive. It takes hundreds of hours from puppyhood to “make” a fully ready SAR dog, according to Roland. While any breed can technically do SAR work, he stresses the importance of starting at around eight weeks and selecting a dog with a high level of drive and eagerness.
Training begins with short drills, gradually progressing to advanced simulations. The breed and size of the dog must suit the task. For example, Roland notes, “You must be aware that if you want to do trailing you will not be able to use a Toy breed… Some of the lost persons being trailed may travel more than five miles, so you are going to need a medium-sized, strong, agile dog that can walk great distances. You may work through urban streets or wooded and mountainous areas with a trailing dog.”
The same sort of criteria should also be considered for human remains detection dogs, also known as cadaver dogs. “A human remains detection dog (cadaver dog) must have the same intensity as a trailing dog,” Roland explains. “It goes without saying that a trailing dog must be able to differentiate between the scent of
different persons.”
Though the goals differ, trailing and cadaver dog training share many similarities. Roland points out there’s no single right method; training is based on what the individual dog best responds to. “A human remains dog will be asked to find the body of a human in any environment, be it on the surface, buried, or in the water,” Roland details. “They must be able to differentiate between human remains and other animal remains. We do not want the dog to indicate on a buried horse or some other animal and cause law enforcement to dig or send down divers when it is not necessary. This can happen if a dog is not properly trained.”
SAR dogs can come from different beginnings. Some start out as pets whose owners become interested in SAR and pursue training. Others are brought up by experienced handlers. Roland’s own journey into SAR was unexpected. “I came to SAR being invited by one of my Obedience students to come to a training session, and then on a search and was immediately drawn to it,” he shares. “I worked as support for five years as the training director, helping to train handlers’ dogs in their disciplines until one of my teammates told me he had cancer and wanted me to take his dogs and continue their work.”
That pivotal moment led to a long-term commitment. “I worked this dog until her retirement last year. In 2021, a second teammate died from a heart attack and left his dogs to me, and I have continued to work, train, and certify them since.”
While no one team’s journey is precisely the same, there is one mission and general purpose they all share, which can best be explained as the perfect illustration of humanity and selflessness. “Since there is no financial compensation, most people do Search and Rescue because of an inherent motivation to help others in need,” Roland says. “The backbone of every search effort is primarily volunteers and involves extremely demanding work.”
